NHL Short Takes

After a 3-2 loss to Detroit last week, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said goalie James Reimer's performance was just "OK."

Agent Ray Petkau created a wildfire when he tweeted, "As is customary in Toronto, when your team plays poor defensively game after game, you blame your goalie."

When all of Toronto's hockey fandom assumed that was in response to Carlyle's critique, Petkau tweeted, "Apparently that last tweet needs clarification. Notice it's NOT directed at anyone in particular. It's a general observation. #BadTiming."

Burnzie's butt check

The San Jose Sharks are 10-2-1 since the All-Star break, and defenseman-turned-forward Brent Burns has turned his game around since a 19-game goal drought.

Burns had a huge game against Anaheim last week, highlighted by his "butt check" on Anaheim's Corey Perry. Burns didn't execute your old-fashioned, prototypical hip check.

"It's never taught that way," coach Todd McLellan said. "He has his own unique style. He backs that big truck in and finishes checks that way."

The truth hurts

Philadelphia Flyers coach Craig Berube, who has led Philly's impressive turnaround since Peter Laviolette was fired, was asked how his personality compared to former Flyers coach Ken Hitchcock: "Mine's better," he joked.